2013 Formula 1 Thread

[RaceTripper]

Picking up from the 2012 Formula 1 discussion thread. Time for the 2013 F1 season silliness to commence.


The 2013 F1 Calendar is official. 19 races, with Turkey the turkey.

 

[zagato27]

I'm in! Feel better already. Ok, prognostications....winner?????

 

[fox10078]

HRT is gone, 22 cars on the grid this year.

 

[pachyderm]

HRT is gone, 22 cars on the grid this year.

no buyers?

 

[lewis82]

no buyers?

MacRumors has over 500,000 members. I'm pretty sure we can work this out

 

[AirThis]

It's a long way to the first race in 2013. Now that flag-gate is over, I guess we'll have to find something else to ride out the winter.

Buy HRT? Sorry for being so cheap, but I think I'll donate a buck to Kamui instead.

 

[robbieduncan]

no buyers?

Apart from the entry what would you be buying? A no hope car with no development and no start made on a 2013 car. Probably easier and cheaper to prove you have the money and talent to Bernie and just buy the entry.

 

[bjm2660]

Apart from the entry what would you be buying? A no hope car with no development and no start made on a 2013 car. Probably easier and cheaper to prove you have the money and talent to Bernie and just buy the entry.

Agreed. I'd like to see an American owned team (operate in Britain), but this is the wrong opportunity to jump in.

Who wants that legacy?

It's a shame the track will be a little less densely populated. Then again, HRT was more a spectator than participant to racing action.

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MacRumors has over 500,000 members. I'm pretty sure we can work this out

Ha! What a great idea.

More seriously, might Apple ever be interested in sponsoring a team? An all-white car with a black apple logo and an all-black car with a white apple logo.

 

[RaceTripper]

...

More seriously, might Apple ever be interested in sponsoring a team? An all-white car with a black apple logo and an all-black car with a white apple logo.

 

[bjm2660]

image

yes!

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I want to see a surprise entry from Porsche. The head of Audi motorsport has said that F1 and Audio don't mix. That leaves Porsche and VW. I'd like to see the high end marquees in F1. Besides, Porsche as a history of involvement.

I'd also like to see Honda return as at least an engine manufacturer.

 

[pachyderm]

love to see Peugeot back in F1...

 

[RaceTripper]

love to see Peugeot back in F1...

Given that Peugeot's motorsports activity in early 2012 was to abandon their entire racing program, including the Le Mans one where they were kicking everyone's ass, including Audi, that is very highly unlikely.

 

[pachyderm]

Given that Peugeot's motorsports activity in early 2012 was to abandon their entire racing program, including the Le Mans one where they were kicking everyone's ass, including Audi, that is very highly unlikely.

yeah. didn't say it was likely to happen. said i'd like to see it happen...

 

[iGav]

Besides, Porsche as a history of involvement.

Not a great one as a team.

Porsche are historically more associated with Sportscar racing. Their involvement as a constructor in F1 wasn't particular brilliant (what was it, 1 win in the Championship & 2 in total?).

What would make even more sense is a VW Group entry under the Auto Union name. I still can't believe that VW hasn't resurrected it, and updated it to reflect their current stable of brands, and then simply emphasise wherever possible a specific brand, at a specific race in a specific country. Marketing gold mine.

 

[bjm2660]

Not a great one as a team.

Porsche are historically more associated with Sportscar racing. Their involvement as a constructor in F1 wasn't particular brilliant (what was it, 1 win in the Championship & 2 in total?).

What would make even more sense is a VW Group entry under the Auto Union name. I still can't believe that VW hasn't resurrected it, and updated it to reflect their current stable of brands, and then simply emphasise wherever possible a specific brand, at a specific race in a specific country. Marketing gold mine.

I would accept that--a refreshing and powerful brand entry.

My ideas are springing from a frustration with the slow, under-funded teams. I think the best way forward is to have the big boys return (Honda, Toyota, BMW, VW, maybe Ford).

 

[CWallace]

Porsche are historically more associated with Sportscar racing. Their involvement as a constructor in F1 wasn't particular brilliant (what was it, 1 win in the Championship & 2 in total?).

As a Constructor, Porsche was 3rd (1961) and 5th (1962).

They did win the WC powering McLaren F1 cars in 1984 and 1985 and finished 2nd in 1986 and 1987.

My ideas are springing from a frustration with the slow, under-funded teams. I think the best way forward is to have the big boys return (Honda, Toyota, BMW, VW, maybe Ford).

The problem with that is the "factory teams" enter only to win for PR purposes so they spend an absolute mint. And because of that spend, they either quit as soon as they win ("Mission Accomplished") or after a few years of not-winning they then pull the plug (Honda, Toyota, BMW).

This is what killed FIA Group C Sports Cars - they tweaked the formula to favor the factories, which made it difficult for the privateers to compete. So once the factory teams left, there were no cars and the series folded.


Strong privateer teams like Williams and McLaren were the real foundation of F1 for the 1980s and 1990s along with "factory privateer" teams like Ferrari and Lotus (I'd consider the current McLaren to be a "factory privateer"). They're successful and large enough to survive the manufacturers coming to play so when those manufacturers leave, there is still a solid core of teams left to keep it going.

 

[bjm2660]

The problem with that is the "factory teams" enter only to win for PR purposes so they spend an absolute mint. And because of that spend, they either quit as soon as they win ("Mission Accomplished") or after a few years of not-winning they then pull the plug (Honda, Toyota, BMW).

This is what killed FIA Group C Sports Cars - they tweaked the formula to favor the factories, which made it difficult for the privateers to compete. So once the factory teams left, there were no cars and the series folded.


Strong privateer teams like Williams and McLaren were the real foundation of F1 for the 1980s and 1990s along with "factory privateer" teams like Ferrari and Lotus (I'd consider the current McLaren to be a "factory privateer"). They're successful and large enough to survive the manufacturers coming to play so when those manufacturers leave, there is still a solid core of teams left to keep it going.

Insightful perspective. I guess I hadn't really thought that much about it. It sounds like F1 needs teams with a passion for racing and financial stability. They could be privateers, factory privateers, or works teams. However, with the exception of Ferrari, who are nearly synonymous with the sport, works teams tend to get fickle and leave. Prior to Hamilton's singing, Mercedes was not necessarily a given for next year.

 

[iGav]

As a Constructor, Porsche was 3rd (1961) and 5th (1962).

Exactly. Not brilliant as a constructor. And therefore of questionable suitability as a brand for the VW Group to enter F1 under really.

A stronger argument could be made for the suitability of Audi, because of their historic ties with Grand Prix racing under the Auto Union brand. But even then, Audi, much like Porsche are more associated with Sportscar racing now.

But still… an entry under the Audi brand would pale in comparison to the marketing opportunities of a true, contemporary Auto Union brand (Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, Skoda, Suzuki, Volkswagen)… marketing gold mine right there, tailored for each race, tailored for each country.

They did win the WC powering McLaren F1 cars in 1984 and 1985 and finished 2nd in 1986 and 1987.

True, but I don't think they'd be much mileage for a VW brand entry purely as an engine supplier nowadays.

Strong privateer teams like Williams and McLaren were the real foundation of F1 for the 1980s and 1990s along with "factory privateer" teams like Ferrari and Lotus (I'd consider the current McLaren to be a "factory privateer"). They're successful and large enough to survive the manufacturers coming to play so when those manufacturers leave, there is still a solid core of teams left to keep it going.

Technically Lotus wasn't a factory team, it was a separate entity independent of the road car company. McLaren has certainly become one. They're thriving. It's sad to see what Williams has become though. I'd like to see a competitive Williams team again.

But I agree completely with what you're saying regarding factory and privateer teams though.

 

[pachyderm]

Lotus E13:

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McLaren MP4-28

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Force India VMJ06:

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Ferrari F138

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Sauber C32

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Red Bull

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Marussia MRO2

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Caterham CT03

 

[Apple fanboy]

Slightly off topic, the company I work for sells stuff online and yesterday we received an order from a Nico Rosberg in Monaco. We all got pretty excited (well those of us in the office who follow Formula One). So now I have his address I think I'll write to him and see if he has any spare tickets for the Monaco GP!

 

[pachyderm]

williams fw35

 

[robbieduncan]

Williams is an interesting looking car/nose.

 

[pachyderm]

Williams is an interesting looking car/nose.

it and ferrari are my two faves...

 

[danpass]

Hamilton was on Top Gear UK this past Sunday.

Set a new fastest lap on the old RPC.

He said that MS was the only driver so far to bring a team (back) to prominence (Ferrari) and he would like to be that type of driver with Merc.

.......... An all-white car with a black apple logo and an all-black car with a white apple logo.

that is a great idea

 

[bjm2660]

it and ferrari are my two faves...

I'm inclined to agree with you. The Williams and Ferrari have similar nose cone shapes--very aesthetically pleasing to my eye. I especially like how the front wing joins the Williams. It's just beautiful.

I didn't have much love for the team previously. Maldonado can be a bit of a thug. As a McLaren fan, I got tired of him and Hamilton "finding" each other on track. Is it petty to root for Williams among the mid-field simply because of their gorgeous car?